Hello Richard,   
      
    DD>> I could go along with compulsory national service for all who wish   
    DD>> to enjoy the benefits of citizenship. But, IMO, it need not be   
    DD>> military service. But, the gummint should get to decide where the   
    DD>> newly does the service. If it's a a mud-foot grunt humping a rifle   
    DD>> and pack through some desert or jungle or if it's counting penguins   
    DD>> in Antarctica it should count the same.   Bv)=   
      
    RW> YEp, that's kind of the way i see this thing working.   
      
   Politicians do not want responsibility or accountability.   
   That is why reinstatement of the draft (regardless of form)   
   will never happen.  We have the mercenary army the pols   
   have always wanted.  As such, if it ain't broke, why fix it?   
      
    RW> YOu might end up toting a rifle,   
      
   Conscientious objectors will never tote a rifle of any kind.   
      
    RW> or you might be helping build a road or dig a well, or, as you say,   
   counting   
    RW> penguins, whatever's needed.   
      
   Conscientious objectors will also refuse to go along with other   
   kinds of service, on the grounds that doing so would be supporting   
   the war effort, even if there is no war going on at the time.   
      
    RW> OF course some of this would be commensuare with your abilities and   
    RW> aptitidues which would be gauged and tested when you showed up.   
      
   Physical and/or mental disability would disqualify many from serving,   
   even if they wanted to.  Not really an issue for conscientious   
   objectors, since they would refuse to serve regardless of their   
   physical/mental capacity to do so.   
      
    RW> Imho it just makes sense, helpsyoung people prepare for life as citizens   
    RW> over adn above hs, and gives us the bodies we need, whether it be to fight   
    RW> a war, or provide international aid or bodies for   
    RW> public projects that do us good that need bodies to happen.   
      
   It makes far better sense to denounce war in all its various forms,   
   and promoting and practicing nonviolence in its place.   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)